Handheld controller with hand detection sensors

ABSTRACT

A handheld controller configured to be held by a user&#39;s hand. The handheld controller comprising a main body, and a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side. A control button is positioned on the main body or handle, and a detection sensor is on the handle. The detection sensor is positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user&#39;s hand engaging the handle. The detection sensor can be a capacitive touch sensor, a proximity sensor or other detection sensor operative to detect the touch or spatial presence of the user&#39;s hand or fingers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/273,727, filed Dec. 31, 2015, entitled “Handheld Controller with Hand Detection Sensors” which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application is directed to handheld controllers and, more specifically, to virtual reality handheld controllers.

BACKGROUND

In a virtual reality system, a user wears a head-mounted display that presents a selected virtual reality (VR) environment in front of the user's eyes. In some VR systems, a user can manipulate items in the virtual environment with handheld controllers. The controllers include tracking patterns comprised of a pattern of lights, for example. The system monitors the movement of the tracking patterns with a tracking camera and reproduces the user's hand movements in the virtual environment. However, buttons traditionally used on game controllers, for example, do not typically detect detailed hand movements. For example, individual finger movements and gestures, as well as hand movements relative to the controller, are not captured with traditional button configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the handheld controller with detection sensors introduced herein may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pair of handheld controllers each including hand detection sensors according to a representative embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a user's right hand grasping the right-hand controller of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the right-hand controller shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as viewed from the handle.

FIG. 4 is a side view and elevation with various components hidden to show a finger button mounting arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the handheld controller with various components hidden to show a finger button mounting arrangement.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the handheld controller of FIG. 5 as viewed from above with various components hidden to show the finger button position sensor.

FIG. 7 is a front view in elevation of a handheld controller including hand detection sensors according to another representative embodiment.

The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed embodiments. Further, the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be expanded or reduced to help improve the understanding of the embodiments. Moreover, while the disclosed technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the embodiments described. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

A handheld controller with touch or proximity detection sensors is disclosed. In an embodiment, the handheld controller is configured to be held by a user's hand, the controller includes a main body, a handle extending from the main body, and a control button positioned on the main body or the handle. A detection sensor is on the handle and positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user's hand engaging the handle. The detection sensor can be a pressure sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, or a proximity sensors to detect the touch or spatial location of the user's fingers relative to the handle.

One embodiment provides a handheld controller comprising a main body having a thumb surface, a thumbstick extending from the thumb surface, a surrounding ring portion extending from the main body, and a handle extending from the main body. The handle has a palm side and a finger side. A trigger button is positioned on the main body or handle, and a third-finger button is positioned on the finger side of the handle. A detection sensor is on the handle and positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user's hand engaging the handle and operative to output a signal corresponding to a presence of the user's hand relative to the handle.

Another embodiment provides a handheld controller comprising a main body, and a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side. A trigger button is positioned on the main body or handle. A first detection sensor is on the finger side of the handle and positioned to detect the presence of a first one of the user's fingers relative to the handle. A second detection sensor is on the finger side of the handle adjacent to the first detection sensor and positioned to detect the presence of a second one of the user's fingers relative to the handle. A third detection sensor is on the handle and positioned to detect the presence of a portion of the user's hand relative to the handle.

General Description

Various examples of the devices introduced above will now be described in further detail. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. One skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that the techniques discussed herein may be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understand that the technology can include many other features not described in detail herein. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail below so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description.

The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of some specific examples of the embodiments. Indeed, some terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this section.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of handheld controllers 100 according to a representative embodiment. The pair of handheld controllers 100 includes a right-hand controller 102 and a left-hand controller 104. The primary structure of the right-hand controller 102 and the left-hand controller 104 when held adjacent to each other in a similar orientation, as illustrated, are substantially symmetric with respect to each other. Both the controllers 102/104 are described herein with respect to the right-hand controller 102, as both controllers include the same or similar features, albeit in mirror image. The right-hand controller 102 includes a main body 106 and a handle portion 108 extending from the main body 106. In some embodiments, a surrounding ring portion 110 extends from the main body 106. The controllers 102/104 can be part of a VR system 10, such as the Rift™ available from Oculus™.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the right-hand controller 102 includes a thumbstick 112, a trigger button 114 and a third-finger button 116. The main body 106 includes a thumb surface 118 from which the thumbstick 112 extends. The main body 106 may also include one or more buttons 120 and 122 positioned on the thumb surface 118. In some embodiments, the thumb surface 118 is a substantially planar surface. The handle portion 108 extends from the main body 106 on a side generally opposite the trigger button 114. The main body 106 and the handle portion 108 are ergonomically contoured such that a user's hand 5 can comfortably grasp the handheld controller 102 as illustrated. When the controller 102 is grasped, the user's thumb 7 (i.e., the first finger) is comfortably positionable above the main body 106 with the thumb 7 engaging on the thumbstick 112. The user's second or index finger 9 is positioned on the trigger button 114. The user's third or middle finger 11 operates the third-finger button 116. The third-finger button 116 is operative to detect whether the user is grasping the handle portion 108 with his or her third-finger 11. In some embodiments, the third-finger button 116 can detect various degrees of deflection corresponding to the force or pressure of a user's grip on the handle portion 108.

In some embodiments, the third-finger button 116 is active depending on the context of an associated virtual environment or game. In other embodiments, the third-finger button 116 is activated mechanically or by another sensor. One embodiment could include a palm sensor (e.g., analogous to a pistol grip safety or grip switch), such that when the palm sensor detects the user's hand, and the third-finger button 116 is released, an output signal indicates an “open-hand gesture.”

In some embodiments, the handle portion 108 can include one or more detection sensors 125 positioned to detect the presence of the user's palm or a portion of a finger, indicating that the user is holding the handle portion 108, indicating how the user is holding the handle portion, or how the user is moving his or her hand relative to the handle portion. For example, the detection sensor 125 can be a capacitive touch sensor on the handle portion, such as adjacent to the third finger button 116 or in a position for engagement by the user's fourth or fifth finger when grasping the handle. A detection sensor 125 can be positioned to be engaged by a portion of the user's second finger (i.e., index finger) or third finger (i.e., middle finger) that is on the handle portion 108 adjacent to the trigger button 114 or the third-finger button 116, indicating the presence of the user's fingers on the handle portion 108 even if the associated finger has been lifted off of the trigger button 114 or the third finger button 116. Detection sensors 125 can be provided on the handle portions corresponding to the position of all of the user's fingers grasping the handle.

In one embodiment, one or more of the detection sensors 125 are proximity sensors configured to detect the spatial location of the user's fingers or hand relative to the handle portion 108. For example, the proximity sensor 125 could be used to detect the presence of the user's finger and the separation distance between the respective finger and the surfaced of the handle portion 108. The proximity sensors 125 can be configured to allow detection of movement of the user's fingers or other portions of the user's hand relative to the handle portion 108. The detected separation distance and/or movement can be used in connection with signals, commands, or other control signals related to the hand shape or position of the user's hand or fingers relative to the handle portion 108.

In some embodiments, the handle portion 108 can include a combination of pressure sensors, capacitive touch sensors, and/or proximity sensors that provide signals to the VR system 10, for example, to initiate a command or to replicate a hand configuration in a corresponding apparition or avatar.

When the third-finger button 116 is depressed, the system registers that the user's hand is closed or grasped around the handle portion 108. When the third-finger button 116 is not depressed, the system can indicate an open hand gesture. The presence of a gesture can be a signal to the VR system 10 to initiate a command or to include the gesture in a corresponding apparition or avatar. The third-finger button 116 allows a user to maintain a grip on the handle portion 108 while still being able to provide hand grip inputs to the VR system. In another embodiment, the third button on the handle is positioned for engagement by the user's ring or fourth finger or the pinkie or fifth finger, or a combination of the third, fourth and/or fifth fingers. In some embodiments, the thumbstick 112, the trigger button 114, the thumb surface 118, and the buttons 120 and 122 can be configured to detect other hand and finger gestures as explained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/939,470, titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING HAND GESTURES WITH A HANDHELD CONTROLLER,” filed Nov. 12, 2015, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/975,049, titled HANDHELD CONTROLLER WITH ACTIVATION SENSORS, filed Dec. 18, 2015, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

With reference to FIG. 3 , the handle portion 108 includes a palm side 124, which confronts the palm of the user's hand 5, and a finger side 126 opposite the palm side 124 and generally confronts the fingers, such as the third-finger 11, of the user's hand 5. Accordingly, the third-finger button 116 is disposed on the finger side 126 of the handle portion 108. As shown in FIG. 4 , the third-finger button 116 includes an arm 128 rotatably coupled to the main body 106 via a pivot shaft 130 extending along an axis A. With further reference to FIG. 5 , the pivot shaft 130 is mounted at an angle with respect to the main body 106 in clevis arms 132 and 134 extending from the main body 106. In some embodiments, a torsion spring 136 is positioned about the pivot shaft 130 to return the arm 128 to the extended position and to provide tactile feedback to the user's third-finger 11 (see FIG. 2 ) in the form of a resistive force.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the third-finger button 116 includes a detection feature, such as a magnet or other detectable member. In the illustrated embodiment, a magnet 140 is mounted on arm 128. A sensor 142 is positioned inside the handle adjacent the magnet 140. In some embodiments, the sensor 142 is a Hall effect sensor. A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to a magnetic field. Thus, as the magnet 140 moves closer to the sensor 142, the output voltage varies. Accordingly, the third-finger button 116 is an analog button in that it can detect various degrees of deflection corresponding to the force of a user's grip on the handle portion 108 and output a signal corresponding to movement of the third-finger button 116. In some embodiments, the magnet 140 and the Hall effect sensor 142 may be replaced by an on/off switch such as a miniature snap-action switch, for example. In some embodiments, movement of the third-finger button 116 can be detected with an inductive proximity sensor or other suitable type of proximity sensor. In some embodiments, the detection feature for use with a proximity sensor can be a location (e.g., target location) on the third-finger button 116.

FIG. 7 illustrates a handheld controller 202 according to a representative embodiment. The handheld controller 202 comprises a main body 206, a trigger button 210 positioned on the main body 206, and a handle portion 208 extending from the main body 206 on the side opposite the trigger button 210. The handle portion 208 has a palm side 224 and a finger side 226. A first pressure sensitive sheet or pad 214 is positioned on the palm side 224 of the handle portion 208 and a second pressure sensitive sheet or pad 216 is positioned on the finger side 226. The pressure sensitive pads 214/216 are operative to detect compression of the pads caused by a user's fingers and/or palm, thereby registering the presence and/or strength of a user's grip around the handle portion 208. In some embodiments, the handle portion 208 only includes one or other of the first and second pressure sensitive pads 214/216.

Remarks

The above description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in some instances, well-known details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. Further, various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited except as by the appended claims.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, and any special significance is not to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for some terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any term discussed herein, is illustrative only and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld controller configured to be held by a user's hand to interact with a virtual reality system, comprising: a main body; a surrounding ring portion that extends from a left side of the main body to form a ring by connecting back with a right side of the main body; a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side; and a third-finger button on the finger side of the handle configured such that when the third-finger button is depressed, the virtual reality system registers that the user's hand is grasped around the handle; wherein: the virtual reality system is implemented in part through a virtual reality headset; the third-finger button comprises an arm rotatably coupled to the main body; the arm is rotatably coupled to the main body via a pivot shaft extending along an axis; the pivot shaft is mounted at an angle with respect to the main body in two separate clevis arms extending from the main body; and a torsion spring is positioned about the pivot shaft to return the arm to an extended position such that tactile feedback is provided to the user's third-finger in a resistive force.
 2. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a presence of an open hand gesture triggers a signal to the virtual reality system to include the open hand gesture in a corresponding avatar.
 3. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a palm sensor on the palm side functions as a pistol grip safety.
 4. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a palm sensor on the palm side comprises a first pressure sensitive sheet and a second pressure sensitive sheet is positioned on the finger side.
 5. The handheld controller of claim 4, wherein the first pressure sensitive sheet and the second pressure sensitive sheet together detect a strength of the user's grip around the handle.
 6. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein the handheld controller includes tracking patterns comprised of patterns of lights.
 7. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a first button positioned on a thumb surface of the main body adjacent a thumbstick.
 8. The handheld controller of claim 6, wherein the virtual reality system is configured to monitor movement of the tracking patterns with a tracking camera.
 9. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a detection sensor on the main body.
 10. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein a palm sensor on the palm side comprises a first pressure sensitive sheet.
 11. The handheld controller of claim 10, wherein the palm sensor on the palm side comprises a first pressure sensitive sheet and the handheld controller further comprises a second pressure sensitive sheet.
 12. The handheld controller of claim 11, wherein the handheld controller further comprises a set of three detection sensors.
 13. The handheld controller of claim 12, wherein the handheld controller furthcr comprises a set of three detection sensors is disposed on the finger side.
 14. The handheld controller of claim 13, wherein the second pressure sensitive sheet is disposed on the finger side and overlaps a first one of the three detection sensors.
 15. The handheld controller of claim 14, wherein the third-finger button comprises the first one of the three detection sensors corresponding to a third finger of the user.
 16. The handheld controller of claim 10, further comprising a first button positioned on a thumb surface of the main body adjacent a thumbstick.
 17. The handheld controller of claim 16, further comprising a second button positioned on the thumb surface of the main body adjacent the thumbstick.
 18. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a first detection sensor on the finger side of the handle and positioned to detect the presence of a specific finger of the user relative to the handle.
 19. The handheld controller of claim 18, wherein the first detection sensor comprises a proximity sensor.
 20. The handheld controller of claim 1, wherein the handheld controller is configured such that when both the handheld controller detects that the third-finger button on the finger side is released and also a palm sensor on the palm side detects the user's hand, the virtual reality system in response indicates an open hand gesture. 